Introductory Calculus book/online course for self study

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around recommendations for introductory calculus resources suitable for self-study. Participants share their experiences with various books and online courses, exploring options for learning calculus effectively.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant seeks recommendations for calculus books or online courses, mentioning their prior knowledge of pre-calculus and basic concepts of limits and derivatives.
  • Another participant suggests the Khan Academy YouTube channel as a valuable resource for learning calculus.
  • Additional mentions of Khan Academy and Mathispower4u websites are made, highlighting their short video format as beneficial for learning.
  • A participant recommends "Calculus" by Gilbert Strang, noting its availability for free download on the MIT website and its suitability for self-study, while expressing uncertainty about its effectiveness in a classroom setting.
  • There is a query about the book "Spivak," with a participant asking if it is considered an introductory book.
  • Some posts appear to reference unrelated content, leading to confusion among participants about the relevance of certain messages.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the value of online resources like Khan Academy, but there is no consensus on the best book for self-study, as different titles are suggested without a clear preference established.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express confusion regarding the inclusion of unrelated posts, indicating potential issues with thread organization or quoting.

Yashbhatt
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I would like to learn calculus from the start. I have had pre-calculus and have basic ideas about limits and derivates(though not very rigorously). Which book should I use?

I have the book "Calculus The Easy Way" by Douglas Downing.

I also have access to Calculus One by Ohio State University on Coursera.

If anyone knows a better book or course, please recommend.

Thanks.
 
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I really Adbice You to Taka a Look at YouTube Channel Khan Academy
The best way to learn anything !
 
There is also khan academy and mathispower4u websites both provide short ten minute videos
 
I enjoy 'Calculus' by Gilbert Strang. I think it's a very good book. It can be downloaded for free on the MIT website, so it's at least worth a look!

I would definitely recommend it if you are self-studying. (I'm not sure how well it would work within the structure of a class.)

Gilbert Strang also has a collection of calculus videos on youtube, I believe they are called "The Big Picture of Calculus."
 
James Woodward said:
Good question. The reality is somewhere between all of the resonance structures. For example, benzene's C-C bond length is somewhere between the single and double bond lengths for carbon.

jedishrfu said:
There is also khan academy and mathispower4u websites both provide short ten minute videos

Nathanael said:
I enjoy 'Calculus' by Gilbert Strang. I think it's a very good book. It can be downloaded for free on the MIT website, so it's at least worth a look!

I would definitely recommend it if you are self-studying. (I'm not sure how well it would work within the structure of a class.)

Gilbert Strang also has a collection of calculus videos on youtube, I believe they are called "The Big Picture of Calculus."

I have heard a lot about Spivak. Is that an introductory book?
 
What? I don't get it. Why did you include my post from Chemistry?

Edit: Oh, I get it; you must have put it in your multi-super-quote thing, as you were also active in the "What really are resonance structures?" thread.
 
James Woodward said:
What? I don't get it. Why did you include my post from Chemistry?

Edit: Oh, I get it; you must have put it in your multi-super-quote thing, as you were also active in the "What really are resonance structures?" thread.

Yeah. I added this accidentally when I clicked add all quotes. Sorry for the mistake.
 
Yashbhatt said:
Yeah. I added this accidentally when I clicked add all quotes. Sorry for the mistake.

It's okay. I was just wondering.
 

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